"We are happy to go early," said Dan Knise, CEO of the local organizing group.
"We think a certain amount of fatigue will set in for the site evaluation team."

RFK Stadium in Washington is one of the key venues the site evaluation team
will visit during its brief analysis of the area. The local Games bid calls
for a rebuilt RFK to be the site for track and field competition, as well as
potentially hosting the opening and closing ceremonies.

Knise is working on the Games' venues plans with facility veteran Bobby Goldwater,
president and executive director of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission,
the organization that operates RFK Stadium and the D.C. Armory. The Armory is
the proposed site for boxing competition. The parking lots and grounds surrounding
the stadium are being discussed as possible Olympic park sites.

"We will only have 45 minutes to show the entire facility," Goldwater said.
"It's not a lot of time. We will set up the Armory for boxing. Dave Matthews
performs in RFK June 9. We will have a quick change, but it will be spotless
for the visit."

Lisa Delpy Neirotti, professor of sports management at George Washington University,
said the area's U.S. significance also should be stressed to the USOC representatives.
Neirotti has studied the Games extensively and has been involved in consulting
work for each Olympics since 1984.

"Remind them we are an international city," she said. "Bring them down Embassy
Row. It will be a subtle hint. And don't let them forget it is the nation's
capital. They need to highlight the scenery and backdrop we have."

In addition to preparing for the committee visit, organizers are taking care
of a variety of issues relating to the effort to get the Games.

Officials recently dropped the Washington/Baltimore Regional 2012 Coalition
moniker they had been using in favor of Chesapeake Region 2012 Coalition. The
actual bid being submitted for the Games is now called Washington, D.C. 2012,
complying with the USOC's request that all bidding organizations use a single-city
designation.

Legislation providing financial guarantees on costs related to the Games has
been passed in Virginia and in Maryland. A comparable bill was introduced to
the D.C. City Council and is expected to pass. The first hearing was scheduled
for last Wednesday.

"It's just a slower process in D.C.," said Knise. "We feel we have broad support
and expect it to move smoothly."

The group also recently settled a lawsuit filed against it by Elizabeth Ganzi
and her company, the Greater Washington Exploratory Committee. Ganzi sought
compensation for the role she played in initiating the efforts of Washington
to be one of U.S. cities bidding for the 2012 Games. When Washington and Baltimore
created a regional bid, the group then known as WBRC 2012 was selected over
Ganzi's group to lead the effort.

As part of the settlement, Ganzi agreed to dismiss the lawsuit and forgo any
further legal action. All other terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

"We are happy to get the distraction behind us," Knise said. "We have a lot
of business to do. We didn't need it hanging over our heads. We're both getting
on with our lives."

Ganzi, who was unavailable for comment, will have no future role with the bid
coalition.